Bring 'Nexus: From Basra to Bengal' Cookbook to Life!

I’m Elli Benaiah, and I’m working on Nexus: From Basra to Bengal, a cookbook project celebrating the unique Baghdadi Jewish culinary traditions that traveled from Iraq to India 200 years ago. These traditions preserved their roots while embracing new techniques and spices, creating a vibrant and enduring culinary fusion with unique recipes from India, Burma, Singapore, and even Japan.

Growing up in a family that blended Middle Eastern and South Asian flavors, I’ve always been passionate about sharing these recipes. Dishes like stuffed vegetables (Mahasha) and hearty, slow-cooked stews (Chitanee) are more than meals; they are stories of migration, adaptation, and resilience. By documenting them, I aim to preserve a cuisine that connects cultural heritage with the warmth of homespun meals.

This project is deeply personal because it’s about more than just food—it’s about preserving history and identity through the stories and flavors of a community that spans generations and continents. Your support will enable me to research, test, and photograph recipes, gather stories from community members worldwide who continue to keep these traditions alive, and publish this book for all to taste....

By contributing to this fundraiser and sharing it with your networks, you’ll help ensure that Baghdadi Indian

Jewish cooking—infused with spices, history, and resilience—remains part of both our global culinary tapestry and the Jewish heritage for future generations.

Help me share this vibrant culinary history with the world—your support can make this important project a reality. Thank you for joining me on this flavorful journey!